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37 “At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice
    and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(A)
Under the whole heaven he lets it loose,
    and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
After it his voice roars;
    he thunders with his majestic voice,
    and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.(B)
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(C)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;
    and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,(D)
serves as a sign on everyone’s hand,
    so that all whom he has made may know it.[b](E)
Then the animals go into their lairs
    and remain in their dens.(F)
From its chamber comes the whirlwind
    and cold from the scattering winds.(G)
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.(H)
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.(I)
12 They turn round and round by his guidance
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.(J)
13 Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.(K)

14 “Hear this, O Job;
    stop and consider the wondrous works of God.(L)
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them
    and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
    the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,(M)
17 you whose garments are hot
    when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
    hard as a molten mirror?(N)
19 Teach us what we shall say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
21 Now, no one can look on the light
    when it is bright in the skies,
    when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;
    around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty[c]—we cannot find him;
    he is great in power and justice,
    and abundant righteousness he will not violate.(O)
24 Therefore mortals fear him;
    he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”(P)

Footnotes

  1. 37.4 Heb them
  2. 37.7 Meaning of Heb of 37.7 uncertain
  3. 37.23 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

37 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.